Edinburgh - Adapting IHM for the Elderly/Palliative Care

Thanks so Madge (centre with me) for inviting me to Edinburgh to facilitate a course on adapting Indian Head Massage for the Elderly and Palliative Care. I was most impressed by everyone's enthusiam and passion for the topic and hope to stay in touch to how they are using their skills.

More congratulations!

Well done to Leslie for passing her Indian Head Massage Diploma. She is pictured here with Nic, a past student who came back to offer tips and advice. Leslie was one of the students who trained with me at the Natural Health School of Complementary Therapies in Thames Ditton.

Indian Head Massage - in the family home!

Indian head massage began as part of the family day and here we are following the tradition! Sue is giving her 85 year old mother a treatment, and my own dad (also 85 years young) is waiting patiently for his massage. Needless to say they both loved their treatments.

Diploma in Indian Head Massage

This was a summer intensive! Pamela and Liz worked so hard and achieved very good results in both their theory and practical tests. Pictured at the end of the three days, Pamela is giving Liz a well deserved Indian Head Massage. My Diploma is accredited by both CThA and FHT and recognised by all leading insurance companies. Ideal for mature learners, there is a maximum number of four on the course to ensure a friendly and supportive learning atmosphere. For feedback from students do check out my website www.maryatkinson.org.uk

Book of the Week - You magazine 21st June

Yes, my book Healing Touch for Children was made book of the week in the Mail on Sunday You magazine. I was thrilled but more importantly, let's hope that we are getting the message across that children deserve to be made to feel very, very special.

Positive Parents

I was so delighted to meet Sue Atkins, author of Raising Happy Children for Dummies. She is a dynamic lady who brings light and love wherever she goes. We chatted for hours like long lost friends. One of our favourite topics of conversation was positive ways of bringing up children including the massage in schools programme. To find out more about the amazing Sue and her work with parents and children then do go to her website www.positive-parents.com

Hand and Foot Massage July 14

The house was full of laughter and chat on this study day. We had a wonderful mix of therapists, nurses and friends - all keen to learn hand and foot massage techniques to share with their clients and families. There were several very happy mothers and partners that evening!

All The Way From Australia!

Meet Lorraine MacCool who travelled from Australia to take part in my Hand and Foot Massage course on July 14th. A truly inspiring and pioneering lady, Lorraine works as a volunteer in the Cancer Support Centre at St John of God Hospital in Perth, Western Australia, one of the first centres in Australia to provide free services for patients and carers. Lorraine is really committed to her work and has already ordered several of my Hand and Foot Massage books to give to her colleagues at the hospital. We wish you well, Lorraine.

Farnborough Local FHT Group

A big thank you to Lisa (far right) for inviting me to talk at the local FHT group in Farnborough. The subject was Healing Touch for Children, inspired by the fantastic feedback for my new book. We had an interactive session with plenty of lively discussion on the importance of touch for children with their busy and demanding lifestyles.

Indian Head Massage Upgrade

Since visiting Tokyo four years ago to run a seminar on Indian Head Massage, I have had strong links with Japan and welcome Japanese people into my life. Here is Chihiro who has just finished studying holistic therapies at Chichester College. She is heading back to Japan in August and came to me for tips and ideas on adapting Indian Head Massage for elderly people. It was a beautiful day so we could be in the garden and savour the sounds and smells of nature. I wish Chihiro the best of luck and feel confident she will be a very good therapist.

Lynne Booth - founder of VRT

Whenever Lynne and I get together we always have plenty to share - and here with are with Lynne's latest DVD and my book Healing Touch for Children. If you are not already familiar with Lynne's work, she is the originator of Vertical Reflex Therapy which is a form of reflexology practised on weight bearing hands and feets. The results have been so positive that many reflexologists are now using VRT alongside conventional reflexology. Lynne's DVD is popular with therapists and general public as it offers simple techniques and self-help tools. To find out more about her work go to her website http://www.boothvrt.com/

Hand and Foot Massage in Bristol

It was a joy to work with Lydia who is going to Uganda to offer hand and foot massage to

local people. She is dedicated to her work and keen to pick up tips and ideas on how to make a difference to people's lives through massage. One of the wonderful things about my work is all the amazing people that I meet along the way. It is such an inspiration to hear about how massage can bring so many benefits to people all over the world.

Massage in Schools Conference 2009

It was a real honour to be asked to display my new book Healing Touch for Children at the Massage in Schools Association conference in Hammersmith on Saturday 13th June. Here I am photographed on the day with two very supportive trainers Carol Trower and Sandra Hooper. There was an overwhelming response from therapists, primary school teachers and teaching assistants who feel that the book will complement the inspirational Massage in Schools Programme which brings peer massage for 4-12 year olds into schools. How wonderful that some children are starting to enjoy the benefits of nurturing touch on a daily basis - let's keep trying to get the message across so that eventually all children will experience positive touch every day either at home or in school.

Healing Touch for Children - great reviews!

My latest book Healing Touch for Children is getting some really great reviews and feedback. There were wonderful articles in Yoga and Health and The Chichester Observer Magazine and excellent reviews in The Green Parent, Embody, Juno and Parenting without Tears. I have been thrilled by how children, parents and grandparents have been telling me how much they enjoy sharing positive, caring touch. The book is available from all good bookstores and libraries and of course, from Amazon on-line.

Stubbington Natural Health Centre IHM Diploma

I was delighted when Karen from Stubbington Natural Health Clinic invited me to teach my IHM Diploma Course on the premises. Karen and fellow therapist, Abby, are pictured here with their Mums who stepped in as willing models! They were most impressed by their talented daughters.

Congratulations!

Congratulations to Angela, Ros, Rose and Carol - four more successful students on my Indian Head Massage Diploma Course. Like so many therapists, they say that Indian Head Massage is a very popular therapy with their clients. And just as importantly, they really enjoy giving such a relaxing treatment.

Introduction to Indian Head Massage - Rydale FHT

A big thank you to Bridget and Julia for inviting me to run an Introduction to Indian Head Massage Course in Pickering, Yorkshire. We had a full house of 14 people with more on the waiting list. We had a fun day as well as learning new techniques to use on family and friends. Several people were inspired to continue their learning with a full qualificiation in Indian Head Massage. We all agreed that it was a great way to start the weekend - relaxed and the great feeling of having achieved something too.

Advanced Indian Head Massage Techniques FHT Seminar - March 2009

It was a beautiful spring day in Bournemouth for the FHT seminar on Advanced Indian Head Massage techniques. We had a very positive and enjoyable day with skilled therapists willing to share ideas and experiences with each other. It is always a pleasure to work with FHT members and I look forward to meeting these lovely delegates and others in the future.

Adapting IHM for the Elderly/Palliative Care Feb 2009

We had a really interesting day discussing ways of adapting Indian Head Massage for elderly and frail people. It was wonderful to share information and experiences with like-minded people - and to share a massage and a giggle together too.

If you look closely you can see that Nick (who came all the way from Bristol for the day) is holding up a copy of my new book Healing Touch for Children.